Daniel Mearns Email & Phone Number

Redhill, Gb

Chesterfield, Gb

Birmingham, England, Gb

● Spearheaded the delivery of Digital Transformation initiatives, overseeing the migration of on-premises IT solutions into Azure, resulting in enhanced scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency.● Oversaw the relocation and enhancement of technology infrastructure across global office locations, ensuring alignment with business needs and comprehensive support, resulting in optimised operational efficiency and improved technology estate.● Managed third-party service providers (MSP), hosting service review calls, and reviewed and signed off on change controls, IT service management (ITSM) processes, ensuring seamless IT operations and compliance with regulatory standards.● Oversaw day-to-day management of various internal and offshore support teams, ensuring efficient coordination and resolution of IT issues, leading to improved service levels and enhanced user experience.● Provided regular updates to the Executive Committee (ExCo) on project and operational activities through reporting and weekly meetings, fostering transparency and accountability across the organisation.● Implemented strategies to ensure patch compliance for all infrastructure and end-user computing (EUC) devices, mitigating security vulnerabilities and ensuring regulatory compliance.● Conducted regular performance reviews and provided mentorship and development opportunities to team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth within the IT organisation.Accomplishments:● Designed and managed a "Zero Trust Network" on a global scale, ensuring alignment of team members with delivery requirements and effective project management, minimising risk exposure.● Participated in strategic planning sessions to align IT initiatives with business objectives and drive organisational success through technology innovation and optimisation.

London, Gb

● Established a new team within the Home Office, focusing on the UK government's fourth highest profile program, ensuring efficient setup and alignment with project objectives.● Provided comprehensive support services to 42 UK Police forces, Interpol, and NCA, facilitating the deployment of IT environments for safeguarding children, resulting in enhanced law enforcement capabilities.● Generated management information (MI) and reports for Home Office program directors, offering insights into the technical estates of US police forces and supporting informed decision-making.● Conducted on-site visits to UK forces, conducting reviews of local IT technologies and delivering actionable recommendations for improvement, fostering technological advancement.● Implemented a new IT support function within the Home Office, meticulously documenting all team governance processes to ensure regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.Accomplishments:● Presented detailed reports to program directors within the Home Office, effectively communicating project progress, challenges, and recommendations for strategic enhancements.● Collaborated with managed services providers to optimise IT service delivery, ensuring seamless operations and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs).●Managed the design and delivery of virtual technologies, overseeing the transformation program and mentoring team members to drive innovation and excellence in service delivery.

Bradford, Gb

● Managed third-party vendors and service providers, ensuring alignment with project objectives and adherence to contractual agreements, thus optimising project efficiency and resource utilisation.● Delivered comprehensive reporting and presentations to senior management and stakeholders, offering transparent updates on project progress, challenges, and milestones achieved.● Enforced robust cybersecurity measures and ensured timely patching cycles, conducting daily system checks and providing detailed reports to mitigate security risks and maintain system integrity.● Conducted and managed remote scrum sessions, team meetings, and one-on-one sessions, fostering collaboration, communication, and accountability among team members, driving project success and aligning with business goals.Accomplishments:● Directed the safe decommissioning of infrastructure following the strategic decision to shut down a significant portion of the business, meticulously crafting project plans and strategies to ensure data retention and protection during the decommissioning process.● Led a team of 16 Engineers specialised in Active Directory, Azure, Storage, Hypervisor, Network, and Security, overseeing infrastructure with 800+ servers across On-Premises and Azure, providing seamless services to 5000 users.

London, Gb

● Managed a team of 8, ensuring consistent achievement of project objectives in helpdesk, desktop, and server support, driving efficiency and resolving technical issues promptly.● Developed and executed IT improvement plans, aligning core IT technologies with high-level business requirements to support future growth, optimising operational performance and enhancing user experience.● Analysed team performance trends, and implemented action plans via 1-2-1s to improve efficiency, boosting productivity and meeting project deadlines effectively.● Collaborated with Auditors to achieve Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, ensuring compliance with industry standards and enhancing cybersecurity posture.Accomplishments:● Successfully coordinated the design and build of 2 new Data centres across 2 sites, operating in Active-Passive mode in Tier 3 facilities, within a £700K budget, enhancing infrastructure resilience and scalability.● Key contributor in office relocation, overseeing technology requirements from inception to delivery, ensuring seamless transition and minimal downtime during the move.● Headed the design and implementation of a new Business Continuity Plan (BCP), ensuring prompt restoration in the event of a disaster, mitigating risks and ensuring business continuity.

Guildford, Surrey, Gb

•Planned and coordinated a move of 2 data centres hosting 2500 virtual and physical servers to one centralised external site.•Over responsibility for infrastructure systems serving 25,000 users and supported VMware 5.5 running a mixture of Windows Server 2003 to 2012 R2.•Designed/planned automated WSUS patching for production servers using SCCM2012 R2. •Setup up schedules for different environments to minimise user impact and to ensure zero downtime.•Supported high level BAU tasks/issues via the helpdesk, supported Exchange 2010 and assisted with the migration to Office365.•Selected as a member of the change control board to discuss up and coming proposed production changes.•Oversaw the deployment of the new wildcard SSL certificate to over 150 Windows servers, managed the administration of the A10 loads balancers, removed/added services and moved DFS shares from one storage device to another via PowerShell scripts.

London, England, Gb

•Led a team of 18 engineers with responsibility for managing/maintaining Royal Surrey County Hospital’s entire IT infrastructure, delivering healthcare 24/7/365 to a large Acute Foundation Trust.•Dealt with major incidents, provided incident reports/resolution plans and created new process/policies to help standardize team performance methods.•Led the migration 67 Windows Server 2003 to Server 2008 R2.•Reduced the amount of physical Dell blades and migrated into a VMware environment 5.1/6.•Monitored and controlled project scope, schedule, resources and financials.

London, Gb

•Supporting windows server environment – Windows Server 2003 to 2012 R2 •Supporting Dell PowerEdge blade server •Devolping and expanding Vmware 5.5•Support/configuration of the Avaya VOIP solution running CM6 accross 12 sites •RDS 2012 R2 review and recommendations and implmentation•Supporting day to day BAU inccidents and any Escalated raised VIA the helpdesk

London, London, Gb

I assisted in the development and implementation of the workstation/Server infrastructure. This has involved planning and building the Windows image, and selection of the best method for deployment to multiple machines. I also manage Active Directory Group Policies / Preferences for users and computers. I Implemented a WDS 2012 R2 (Windows Deployment Services) as an upgrade from the previous use of Symantec Ghost; saving on cost and increasing efficiencies. I was the Project Manager for the deployment of Windows 7 to our 230 users. This has involved creating project plans, cost implementations, proposals to senior management and the installation of new systems (SCCM, application deployment and OS updates). It also involved a restructure of Active Directory for auditing and security purposes, to meet ISO9001 and PCI requirements.I was the lead technical Project Manager for planning and upgrading our production Active Directory domain from 2003 to 2012 R2, incorporating six Domain Controllers at multiple physical sites.I was the company’s first point of contact for supporting our Avaya VOIP solution, which includes CMS, AES, NICE and ASA.I performed regular DR tests, failing over file and application servers and VOIP components, to ensure FSA regulations are being met.I also provided out of hours support, taking ownership of any change controls that need to be processed, and ensuring that support cover to the business is maintained.I ran day to day support of HP Proliant servers Running Server 2003 to Server 2012 r2 for various roles (Print servers/File Servers/ Domain controllers) whilst also supporting the day to day BAU tasks and support issues with our 120 Physical Servers and 70 Virtual running on VMware Vsphere 5.5.I upgraded our printing Environment to New multifunctional Xerox printer and built 2 new 2012 R2 Print servers to host them. Migrating remaining windows servers from 2003 to 2012 R2

Redwood City, Ca, Us

Worked as the first point support engineer to the team delivering a major title (Harry Potter). This meant responding to urgent support queries in a high pressure, deadline environment with flexible working.Performed both standard and bespoke desktop, laptop, and PDA builds and hardware repairs.Whilst working in the 2nd line team, I mentored first line technicians and provided technical assistance to them.Performed periodic hardware maintenance checks to ensure high-end AV equipment and deo conferencing units were performing to their optimum.Assisted in the planning and development of the UK studio move from Chertsey to Guildford.Helped to roll out and configure Cisco VOIP to the GuildfordInstalled and configured specialised PS3, XBOX and Wii game console development hardwareSet up technical equipment as required to the projectors within the Odeon cinema

Letchworth Garden City, Gb

I supported 12 regional locations, both by desktop remote control and by attending site.Seconded to the company head office in Letchworth to be part of an Exchange 5.5 to 2003 migration. I also implemented a MPLS network, getting all remote site connected on the WAN.Provided A* support to 200 users across the South East of England. Project managed and performed a server migration from Windows NT4 to Windows 2003.Performed Windows Server support including the design and implementation of a backup regime. Created and implemented laptop and desktop builds.Performed hardware diagnostics and repairs for all workstations.Set up new construction sites. This involved laying out CAT5e cables, installation of routers and switches, building and setting up of workstations, and networking printers.Managed 3rd party providers for installation of telephony lines and circuits, and for fault resolution and escalation.

Nottingham, Gb

Supported 1000 users both locally and using remote management. Traveled to remote sites for diagnostics and problem resolution.Handled problems and changes using the software problem management system.Supported workstations running a wide range of OS from Windows 98 through to Windows XP Pro.Helped to maintain and monitor servers on a day to day basis, running NetWare and Windows 2000 / 2003 server.Configured and maintained PDA’s and Blackberries. Worked with support team colleagues and managers to ensure speedy issue resolution Set up IT equipment and created software deployment packages Set up remote dial up software for field-based users. •Worked on the project to migrate the main line of business application from the IBM mainframe to a Windows / Linux based system.